It was a good night to be Native American. We saw the NAC violate their own bylaws in a well orchestrated effort of Ron Andrade's paid-for voters.
Pechanga leaders Andrew Masiel Sr. and Butch Murphy brought in two busloads of people (small buses) to cast votes. The young people of Pechanga had absolutely NO IDEA what they were voting on. They just looked to their handler, and if the handler raised her blue card they did, too. It was comical in one instance as one kid raised both his hands as if to say, "I really, really, really, really mean it!"
There were well over 150 people, as the NAC stacked the deck with Cherokee people with a resolution in support of the Cherokee's right to kick people out of their tribe. Funny how they complained that Assemblywoman Diane Watson of California is getting involved in Cherokee business, yet CA Natives have no problem supporting Oklahoma Cherokee.
The NAC Exective board actually asked the membership to vote against due process for Indian people. Nice work.
Stay tuned.......
3 comments:
I know pechangas are in a different situation than Cherokees but Cherokee situation only deals with people who were admittedly not Indian who claimed a right of citizenship anyway. They were citizens for a year based on a controversial TRIBAL court ruling. Cherokee citizens changed the law to make sure everyone had to be Indian, which kicked out some of these that were only in for a year or so.
I know Pechanga had people who were in for a long long time and is a different situation.
Also Cherokees don't get percapita checks like Pechanga, so I can see how it would be different also.
There was and continues to be due process for the disenrolled non-Indians at Cherokee because they are appealing in tribal court.
Who knows how it will end there. Until it does though, it doesn't make sense for D. Watson to be trying to terminate the Cherokee Nation and not paying any attention to Pechanga in her own backyard. But she doesn't care about facts, I don't think, or even people in her district.
The federal government and congress has a long historic stance for striping the rights of Native American’s, all in a ploy of greed over land, mineral rights, business, or simply for what appears to be progress by Native American’s. The guise of a minority group lead by Diane Watson and the black caucus is just another attempt of the government to exterminate a smaller minority group for greed. It is good to see other Native American tribes standing up for Sovereign rights.
Yes, Watson is a non Native American, living in California with no business dealing in Native American issues, let alone Cherokee Nation issues. Cherokee people are Cherokee no matter what state, or country, they live in, with a vested interest in their heritage. California Cherokee as well as ALL Native American’s should be supporting tribal Sovereign rights.
It is sad that there are Native American groups and individuals who are actually supporting the bill. Some out of greed, some out of fear of the federal government, but most out of government education that says Native Americans were defeated and should lie down before the government. It is good to show that Native American’s are not a defeated culture or group of people and is willing to take a stand.
It only makes sense that you would have to be Native American to be a part of a Native American tribe. This issue should be at the hearts of all Native Americans. The Cherokee Nation should not back down from this issue and I would hope to see more tribes coming together in support. Termination of tribes will not stop with the Cherokee Nation but will continue to all other tribes as precedence for extermination once again.
As a reminder to all. Diane Watson is a U.S. Representative from California. She is involved in all matters before the Federal Government, including Tribal issues.
I agree that she should take a VERY active role in California Tribal issues as well, including the violations of civil rights and disenrollments of tribes like Chukchansi and Pechanga.
As for extermination of tribes; Pechanga has exterminated 25% of their membership. Plus, the tribal council is not following their own constitution. There are more issues than the Cherokee.
Post a Comment